The effect of stroke and other components in Xing-Nao-Jing on the pharmacokinetics of geniposide

Geniposide for treating atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: a systematic review on its biological characteristics, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology

In recent years, the prevalence and fatality rates of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease have not only shown a consistent rise that cannot be ignored, but have also become a pressing social health problem that requires urgent attention. While interventional surgery and drug therapy offer significant therapeutic results, they often come with common side effects. Geniposide, an active component extracted from the Chinese medicine Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, shows promise in the management of cardiac conditions. This review comprehensively outlines the underlying pharmacological mechanisms by which geniposide exerts its effects on atherosclerosis. Geniposide exhibits a range of beneficial effects including alleviating inflammation, inhibiting the development of macrophage foam cells, improving lipid metabolism, and preventing platelet aggregation and thrombosis. It also demonstrates mitochondrial preservation, anti-apoptotic effects, and modulation of autophagy. Moreover, geniposide shows potential in improving oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress by maintaining the body's antioxidant and oxidative balance. Additionally, this review comprehensively details the biological properties of geniposide, including methods of extraction and purification, as well as its pharmacokinetics and toxicological characteristics. It further discusses the clinical applications of related biopharmaceuticals, emphasizing the potential of geniposide in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, it highlights the limitations of current research, aiming to provide insights for future studies.

Effects of scutellarin on the mechanism of cardiovascular diseases: a review

Cardiovascular diseases represent a significant worldwide problem, jeopardizing individuals' physical and mental wellbeing as well as their quality of life as a result of their widespread incidence and fatality. With the aging society, the occurrence of Cardiovascular diseases is progressively rising each year. However, although drugs developed for treating Cardiovascular diseases have clear targets and proven efficacy, they still carry certain toxic and side effect risks. Therefore, finding safe, effective, and practical treatment options is crucial. Scutellarin is the primary constituent of Erigeron breviscapus (Vant.) Hand-Mazz. This article aims to establish a theoretical foundation for the creation and use of secure, productive, and logical medications for Scutellarin in curing heart-related illnesses. Additionally, the examination and analysis of the signal pathway and its associated mechanisms with regard to the employment of SCU in treating heart diseases will impart innovative resolving concepts for the treatment and prevention of Cardiovascular diseases.

Protective effect of Xingnaojing injection on ferroptosis after cerebral ischemia injury in MCAO rats and SH-SY5Y cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Xingnaojing（XNJ）injection is a traditional Chinese medicine injection with neuroprotective effect, which has been widely used in the treatment of stroke for many years.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to explore the potential mechanism of XNJ in cerebral ischemia mediated by ferroptosis using proteomics and in vivo and in vitro experiments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After the rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was successfully established, they were randomly divided into model, XNJ, and deferoxamine (DFO) group. Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining, Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and Nissl staining were used to observe the infarct area, pathological changes and the degree of neuronal apoptosis of rat brain. Proteins extracted from rat brain tissues were analyzed by quantitative proteomics using tandem mass tags (TMT). Western blotting and immunohistochemical assessment were used to measure the expression of ferroptosis-related proteins. In vitro, the SH-SY5Y cells were subjected to hypoxia (37°C/5% CO2/1% O2) for 24 h to observe the survival rate, and detect the reactive oxygen species (ROS) content and ferroptosis-related proteins.

RESULTS

In TTC and H&E experiments, we found that XNJ drug treatment reduced the infarct volume and brain tissue damage in MCAO rats. Nissl staining also showed that compared with MCAO group rats, the Nissl bodies of brain tissue after XNJ drug intervention were clear with a 3.54-fold increased times, suggesting that XNJ improved cerebral infraction, and neurological deficits in MCAO rats. Proteomics identified 101 intersected differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). According to the bioinformatics analysis, these DEPs were closely related to ferroptosis. Further research indicated that MCAO-induced cerebral ischemia was alleviated by upregulating recombinant glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), ferroportin (FPN) expression, Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression, and downregulating cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), transferring receptor (TFR) and divalent metal transporter-1 (DMT1) expression after XNJ treatment. In addition, in vitro experiment indicated that XNJ improved the survival rate of hypoxia-damaged SH-SY5Y cells. XNJ increased the level of GPX4 and inhibited the protein expression of COX-2 and TFR after cell hypoxia. Moreover, different concentrations of XNJ (0.25%, 0.5%, 1%) reduced the ROS content of hypoxic cells, suggesting that XNJ could inhibit hypoxia-induced cell damage by regulating the expression of ferroptosis-related proteins and decreasing the production of ROS.

CONCLUSIONS

XNJ could promote the recovery of neurological function in MCAO rats and hypoxia SH-SY5Y cells by regulating ferroptosis.

The PI3K/AKT Pathway-The Potential Key Mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Stroke

Stroke is associated with a high disability and fatality rate, and adversely affects the quality of life of patients and their families. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been used effectively in the treatment of stroke for more than 2000 years in China and surrounding countries and regions, and over the years, this field has gleaned extensive clinical treatment experience. The Phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway is important for regulation of cell migration, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, and plays a vital role in vascularization and oxidative stress in stroke. Current Western medicine treatment protocols for stroke include mainly pharmacologic or mechanical thrombectomy to restore blood flow. This review collates recent advances in the past 5 years in the TCM treatment of stroke involving the PI3K/AKT pathway. TCM treatment significantly reduces neuronal damage, inhibits cell apoptosis, and delays progression of stroke via various PI3K/AKT-mediated downstream pathways. In the future, TCM can provide new perspectives and directions for exploring the key factors, and effective activators or inhibitors that affect occurrence and progression of stroke, thereby facilitating treatment.

Network pharmacology to investigate the pharmacological mechanisms of muscone in Xingnaojing injections for the treatment of severe traumatic brain injury

Background

Xingnaojing injections (XNJI) are widely used in Chinese medicine to mitigate brain injuries. An increasing number of studies have shown that XNJI may improve neurological function. However, XNJI's active ingredients and molecular mechanisms when treating traumatic brain injury (TBI) are unknown.

Methods

XNJI's chemical composition was acquisited from literature and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database. We used the "absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion" (ADME) parameter-based virtual algorithm to further identify the bioactive components. We then screened data and obtained target information regarding TBI and treatment compounds from public databases. Using a Venn diagram, we intersected the information to determine the hub targets. Cytoscape was used to construct and visualize the network. In accordance with the hub proteins, we then created a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network using STRING 11.0. Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were analyzed according to the DAVID bioinformatics resource database (ver. 6.8). We validated the predicted compound's efficacy using the experimental rat chronic constriction injury (CCI) model. The neuronal apoptosis was located using the TUNEL assay and the related pathways' hub proteins were determined by PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemical staining.

Results

We identified 173 targets and 35 potential compounds belonging to XNJI. STRING analysis was used to illustrate the protein-protein interactions and show that muscone played a fundamental role in XNJI's efficacy. Enrichment analysis revealed critical signaling pathways in these components' potential protein targets, including PI3K/AKT1, NF-kB, and p53. Moreover, the hub proteins CASP3, BCL2L1, and CASP8 were also involved in apoptosis and were associated with PI3K/AKT, NF-kB, and p53 signaling pathways. We showed that muscone and XNJI were similarly effective 168 h after CCI, demonstrating that the muscone in XNJI significantly attenuated neuronal apoptosis through the PI3K/Akt1/NF-kB/P53 pathway.

Conclusion

We verified the neuroprotective mechanism in muscone for the first time in TBI. Network pharmacology offers a new approach for identifying the potential active ingredients in XNJI.

Network pharmacology to investigate the pharmacological mechanisms of muscone in Xingnaojing injections for the treatment of severe traumatic brain injury

Background

Xingnaojing injections (XNJI) are widely used in Chinese medicine to mitigate brain injuries. An increasing number of studies have shown that XNJI may improve neurological function. However, XNJI’s active ingredients and molecular mechanisms when treating traumatic brain injury (TBI) are unknown.

Methods

XNJI’s chemical composition was acquisited from literature and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database. We used the “absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion” (ADME) parameter-based virtual algorithm to further identify the bioactive components. We then screened data and obtained target information regarding TBI and treatment compounds from public databases. Using a Venn diagram, we intersected the information to determine the hub targets. Cytoscape was used to construct and visualize the network. In accordance with the hub proteins, we then created a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network using STRING 11.0. Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were analyzed according to the DAVID bioinformatics resource database (ver. 6.8). We validated the predicted compound’s efficacy using the experimental rat chronic constriction injury (CCI) model. The neuronal apoptosis was located using the TUNEL assay and the related pathways’ hub proteins were determined by PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemical staining.

Results

We identified 173 targets and 35 potential compounds belonging to XNJI. STRING analysis was used to illustrate the protein–protein interactions and show that muscone played a fundamental role in XNJI’s efficacy. Enrichment analysis revealed critical signaling pathways in these components’ potential protein targets, including PI3K/AKT1, NF-kB, and p53. Moreover, the hub proteins CASP3, BCL2L1, and CASP8 were also involved in apoptosis and were associated with PI3K/AKT, NF-kB, and p53 signaling pathways. We showed that muscone and XNJI were similarly effective 168 h after CCI, demonstrating that the muscone in XNJI significantly attenuated neuronal apoptosis through the PI3K/Akt1/NF-kB/P53 pathway.

Conclusion

We verified the neuroprotective mechanism in muscone for the first time in TBI. Network pharmacology offers a new approach for identifying the potential active ingredients in XNJI.

Therapeutic potential of catalpol and geniposide in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases: A snapshot of their underlying mechanisms

Rehmannia glutinosa, the fresh or dried root of Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch. ex Fisch. & Mey., and Gardenia, the fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis from Rubiaceae, both are famous traditional Chinese medicines that have been traditionally used in China. Catalpol and geniposide, as two kinds of iridoid glycosides with high activities, are the main bioactive components in Rehmannia glutinosa and Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, respectively. Over the past few decades, catalpol and geniposide have been widely studied for their therapeutic effects. The preclinical experiments demonstrated that they possessed significant neuroprotective activities against Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, and depression, etc. In this paper, the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of catalpol and geniposide on Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease from 2005 to now were systematically summarized and comprehensively analyzed. At the same time, the pharmacokinetic characteristics of the analyzed compounds were also described, hoping to provide some enlightenment for the design, research, and development of iridoid glycosides.

Properties and molecular mechanisms underlying geniposide-mediated therapeutic effects in chronic inflammatory diseases

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Geniposide (GE) is ubiquitous in nearly 40 species of plants, among which Gardenia jasminoides J. Ellis has the highest content, and has been used ethnopharmacologically to treat chronic inflammatory diseases. As a traditional Chinese medicine, Gardenia jasminoides J. Ellis has a long history of usage in detumescence and sedation, liver protection and cholestasis, hypotension and hemostasis. It is commonly used in the treatment of diabetes, hypertension, jaundice hepatitis, sprain and contusion. As a type of iridoid glycosides extracted from Gardenia jasminoides J. Ellis, GE has many pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenesic, anti-oxidative, etc. AIM OF THE REVIEW: In this article, we reviewed the sources, traditional usage, pharmacokinetics, toxicity and therapeutic effect of GE on chronic inflammatory diseases, and discussed its potential regulatory mechanisms and clinical application.

RESULTS

GE is a common iridoid glycoside in medicinal plants, which has strong activity in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. A large number of in vivo and in vitro experiments confirmed that GE has certain therapeutic value for a variety of chronic inflammation disease. Its mechanism of function is mainly based on its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, neuroprotective properties, as well as regulation of apoptotsis. GE plays a role in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases by regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis, realizing the dynamic balance of pro/anti-inflammatory factors, improving the state of oxidative stress, and restoring abnormally expressed inflammation-related pathways.

CONCLUSION

According to its extensive pharmacological effects, GE is a promising drug for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.

XingNaoJing injection ameliorates cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion injury via SIRT1-mediated inflammatory response inhibition

Context: XingNaoJing injection (XNJ), extracted from a traditional compound Chinese medicine Angong niuhuang pill, is well known for treating stroke in the clinic, but the specific effects and mechanisms remain unclear.Objective: We investigated the mechanistic basis for the protective effect of XNJ on cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.Materials and methods: Five groups of 10 SD rats underwent 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) followed by 24 h reperfusion. XNJ at 10 and 15 mL/kg was intraperitoneally administered 24 h before ischaemia and at the onset of reperfusion respectively. The silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) inhibitor EX527 was intracerebroventricularly injected 0.5 h before reperfusion. Cerebral infarction size, neurological scores, morphological changes, and expression levels of inflammatory mediators and SIRT1 were measured. Furthermore, human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) were subjected to 3 h oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) followed by 24 h reoxygenation to mimic cerebral I/R in vitro. EX527 pre-treatment occurred 1 h before OGD. SIRT1 and inflammatory mediator levels were analyzed.Results: Both XNJ doses significantly decreased cerebral infarct area (40.11% vs. 19.66% and 9.87%) and improved neurological scores and morphological changes. Inflammatory mediator levels were remarkably decreased in both model systems after XNJ treatment. XNJ also enhanced SIRT1 expression. Notably, the SIRT1 inhibitor EX527 attenuated the XNJ-mediated decrease in inflammation in vivo and in vitro.Conclusions: XNJ improved cerebral I/R injury through inhibiting the inflammatory response via the SIRT1 pathway, which may be a useful target in treating cerebral I/R injury.

Integrated analysis and network pharmacology approaches to explore key genes of Xingnaojing for treatment of Alzheimer's disease

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD), as a neurodegenerative condition, is one of the leading causes of dementia. Our study aims to explore the key genes of Xingnaojing (XNJ) for treatment of AD by integrated microarray analysis and network pharmacology.

METHODS

The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in AD compared with normal control. According to these DEGs, we performed the functional annotation, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction. The network pharmacology was used to explore the potential targets of XNJ in the treatment of AD. The expression level of selected candidate genes was validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

RESULTS

A total of 1,424 DEGs (620 genes were upregulated and 804 genes were downregulated) between AD and normal control were obtained. The functional annotation results displayed that neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, Estrogen signaling pathway and notch signaling pathway were significantly enriched pathways in AD. Comparing the target genes of four active ingredients, a total of 16 shared genes were found. Among which, HTR2A and ADRA2A were also enriched in pathway of neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. The expression of 4 DEGs (SORCS3, HTR2A, NEFL, and TAC1) was validated by qRT-PCR. Except for TAC1, the other 3 DEGs in AD were consistent with our integrated analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study may provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of AD and indicate potential therapeutic targets for AD.

Effects of Xingnaojing Injection on Adenosinergic Transmission and Orexin Signaling in Lateral Hypothalamus of Ethanol-Induced Coma Rats

Acute alcohol exposure induces unconscious condition such as coma whose main physical manifestation is the loss of righting reflex (LORR). Xingnaojing Injection (XNJI), which came from Chinese classic formula An Gong Niu Huang Pill, is widely used for consciousness disorders in China, such as coma. Although XNJI efficiently shortened the duration of LORR induced by acute ethanol, it remains unknown how XNJI acts on ethanol-induced coma (EIC). We performed experiments to examine the effects of XNJI on orexin and adenosine (AD) signaling in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) in EIC rats. Results showed that XNJI reduced the duration of LORR, which implied that XNJI promotes recovery form coma. Microdialysis data indicated that acute ethanol significantly increased AD release in the LHA but had no effect on orexin A levels. The qPCR results displayed a significant reduction in the Orexin-1 receptors (OX1R) expression with a concomitant increase in the A1 receptor (A1R) and equilibrative nucleoside transporter type 1 (ENT1) expression in EIC rats. In contrast, XNJI reduced the extracellular AD levels but orexin A levels remained unaffected. XNJI also counteracted the downregulation of the OX1R expression and upregulation of A1R and ENT1 expression caused by EIC. As for ADK expression, XNJI but not ethanol, displayed an upregulation in the LHA in EIC rats. Based on these results, we suggest that XNJI promotes arousal by inhibiting adenosine neurotransmission via reducing AD level and the expression of A1R and ENT1.

Therapeutic Potential and Effective Components of the Chinese Herb Gardeniae Fructus in the Treatment of Senile Disease

Gardeniae fructus (GF), an evergreen Rubiaceae shrub, is one of the most commonly used Chinese herbs in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and has been used for over a thousand years. It is usually prescribed for the treatment of brain aging, vascular aging, bone and joint aging, and other age-related diseases. It has been demonstrated that several effective compounds of GF, such as geniposide, genipin and crocin, have neuroprotective or related activities which are involved in senile disease treatment. These bioactivities include the mitochondrion dysfunction, antioxidative activity, apoptosis regulation and an anti-inflammatory activity, which related to multiple signaling pathways such as the nuclear factor-κB pathway, AMP-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. To lay the ground for fully elucidating the potential mechanisms of GF in treating age-related pathologies, we summarized the available research conducted in the last fifteen years about GF and its effective components, which have been studied in vivo and in vitro

Xingnaojing Injection Protects against Cerebral Ischemia Reperfusion Injury via PI3K/Akt-Mediated eNOS Phosphorylation

Xingnaojing (XNJ) injection, derived from traditional Chinese medicine formulation, has a protective effect against stroke, but the underlying mechanism is unclear, which severely limited its clinical application. This research aims to elucidate the role and mechanism of XNJ in reducing cerebral ischemic reperfusion (I/R) injury. Rats received 2 h cerebral ischemia followed by reperfusion of 24 h and were intraperitoneally given 5, 10, or 15 ml/kg XNJ 24 h before ischemia and at the onset of reperfusion, respectively. TTC staining, HE staining, and neurological score were implied to evaluate the effectiveness of XNJ. The protein expressions of PI3K/Akt and eNOS signaling were measured. Experiments were further performed in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) to investigate the protective mechanisms of XNJ. HBMECs were subjected to 3 h oxygen and glucose deprivation following 24 h of reoxygenation (OGD) to mimic cerebral I/R in vitro. PI3K inhibitor LY294002 was added with or without the preconditioning of XNJ. Multiple methods including western blot, immunofluorescence, DAPI staining, JC-1, and flow cytometry were carried out to evaluate the effect of XNJ on HBMECs. XNJ could improve rat cerebral ischemic injury and OGD induced HBMECs apoptosis. In vivo and in vitro researches indicated that the mechanism might be relevant to the activation of PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling.

GC-MS/MS method for the determination and pharmacokinetic analysis of borneol and muscone in rat after the intravenous administration of Xingnaojing injection

A simple and sensitive gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of borneol and muscone in rat plasma. The analytes and internal standard, naphthalene, were extracted using a convenient one-step liquid-liquid extraction method with ethyl acetate. The chromatographic separation was realized on a HP-5MS capillary column and detected in multiple reaction monitoring mode. Excellent linearity (R²  ≥ 0.996) was shown over 10.0-5000 ng/mL for borneol and 2.5-250 ng/mL for muscone. The lower limit of quantitation was 10 and 2.5 ng/mL for borneol and muscone, respectively. The intra- and interday precisions were less than 7.52%, and the accuracy values were between  -8.03 and 14.52%. The extraction recovery, matrix effect, and stability were sufficient to meet the Food and Drug Administration criteria. Meanwhile, the assay was successfully applied to the preclinical pharmacokinetic study of borneol and muscone following intravenous administration of Xingnaojing injection, a modern Chinese herbal medicine preparation.

Recent pharmaceutical evidence on the compatibility rationality of traditional Chinese medicine

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Chinese herbs have been used in China for thousands of years and are also becoming popular in Western medicine. Formulae of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which contain two or more herbs, can often obtain better curative efficacies and fewer side effects than single herbs. Though there are many reports on pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of TCM, there remains a serious lack of summarization and systemic analyses of these reported data to help uncover the compatibility rationale of TCM. This review therefore aims to provide such an overview mainly based on the reports published in the last decade. It could be served as an informative reference for researchers interested in compound prescriptions and holistic therapies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant information was collected from various resources, including books on Chinese herbs, China Knowledge Resource Integrated (CNKI), and international databases, such as Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed.

RESULTS

Thirty-six relevant TCM formulae were collected to illustrate the compatibility rationality of TCM from the perspective of pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, and/or pharmacodynamics.

CONCLUSIONS

Compatibility is a key characteristic of multi-herb prescriptions. It often results in the change of the therapeutic material basis and, thus, produces the effect of reducing toxicity and/or increasing curative efficacy.

Therapeutic Potential of Genipin in Central Neurodegenerative Diseases

Central neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), are one of the biggest health problems worldwide. Currently, there is no cure for these diseases. The Gardenia jasminoides fruit is a common herbal medicine in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and a variety of preparations are used as treatments for central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Pharmacokinetic studies suggest genipin is one of the main effective ingredients of G. jasminoides fruit extract (GFE). Accumulated research data show that genipin possesses a range of key pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, neurogenic, antidiabetic, and antidepressant effects. Thus, genipin shows therapeutic potential for central neurodegenerative diseases. We review the pharmacological actions of genipin for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases of the CNS. We also describe the potential mechanisms underlying these effects.

XingNaoJing, prescription of traditional Chinese medicine, prevents autophagy in experimental stroke by repressing p53-DRAM pathway

Background

Xingnaojing (XNJ), a well known prescription in traditional Chinese medicine, has been used for treatment of stroke in China. However, the effects and mechanisms of XNJ on autophagy are not clear. Here, we used the cell models of autophagy induced by serum-free condition and ischemia stroke in rats to further investigate whether the p53-DRAM pathway is involved in the effects of XNJ on autophagy.

Methods

We used the cell model of autophagy induced by serum-free condition and the rat model of ischemia caused by a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The effects of XNJ on p53 transcriptional activity of PC12 cells were evaluated by the luciferase activity assay. The mRNA levels and the expression of p53 and its target autophagy gene DRAM (damage-regulated autophagy modulator) were analyzed respectively by Quantitative-RTPCR and Western blot assay. The activation of autophagy was detected by the levels of autophagy markers, microtubule associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) and p62 by Immunofluorescence and Western blot. p53 inhibitor was used to determine whether p53 is responsible for the effects of XNJ on preventing autophagy.

Results

The assay for luciferase activity of p53 promoter indicated that XNJ inhibited p53 transcriptional activity. XNJ reduced the expression of p53 and its target autophagy gene DRAM (damage-regulated autophagy modulator) in serum-free condition PC12 cells and the cortex in MCAO rats. XNJ reduced autophagy of PC12 cells induced by serum-free condition and the cortex in MCAO rats. Furthermore, suppression of p53 by p53 inhibitor significantly reduced the effects of XNJ on the autophagy of PC12 cells in serum-free condition.

Conclusion

XNJ prevents autophagy in experimental stroke by repressing p53/DRAM pathway. Our findings are therefore of considerable therapeutic significance and provide the novel and potential application of XNJ for the treatment of brain diseases.

Determination of five sesquiterpenoids in Xingnaojing injection by quantitative analysis of multiple components with a single marker

A quantitative analysis of multiple components with a single-marker method was established for the simultaneous determination of five sesqutiterpenoids in Xingnaojing injection. This method was established with Xingnaojing injection determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection. The durability and system suitability of the established method were evaluated, and the reliable relative correction factors were obtained with curdione selected as an internal reference. The contents of the five components in all Xingnaojing injections were determined by external standard method and the contents of curcumenone, curcumenol, curzerenone, and germacrone were also calculated with the obtained relative correction factors. Then, relative error was investigated to estimate the difference of the two methods. As a result, the established new method possesses good adaptability, and there is no significant difference between the two methods, except for the content of curzerenone in eight samples. To put the established method into practice, the limits of quantitation of the established method of the five components were proposed and defined. Thus, the developed methodology can also be utilized to the quality evaluation of Xingnaojing injection, in spite of the difference found in the content of curzerenone between the external standard method and the newly established method.

Pre-treatment with a Xingnaojing preparation ameliorates sevoflurane-induced neuroapoptosis in the infant rat striatum

Xingnaojing (XNJ), is a standardized Chinese herbal medicine product derived from An Gong Niu Huang Pill. It may be involved in neuroprotection in a number of neurological disorders. Exposure to anesthetic agents during the brain growth spurt may trigger widespread neuroapoptosis in the developing brain. Thus the present study aimed to identify whether there was a neuroprotective effect of XNJ on anesthesia-induced neuroapoptosis. Seven-day-old rats received treatment with 2.1% sevoflurane for 6 h. Rat pups were injected intraperitoneally with 1 or 10 ml/kg XNJ at 0.2, 24 and 48 h prior to sevoflurane exposure. The striata of neonatal rats were collected following administration of anesthesia. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze the expression of activated caspase 3, Bax and phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT) in the striatum. It was found that activated caspase 3 and Bax expression were upregulated in the striatum following sevoflurane treatment. Preconditioning with XNJ attenuated the neuronal apoptosis induced by sevoflurane in a dose-dependent manner. Anesthesia reduced the expression of p-AKT (phosphorylated at sites Thr308 and Ser473) and phosphorylated extracellular-regulated protein kinase (p-ERK) in the striatum. Pre-treatment with XNJ reversed the reduction in p-AKT, but not p-ERK expression. These data suggest that XNJ has an antiapoptotic effect against sevoflurane-induced cell loss in the striatum. It thus holds promise as a safe and effective neuroprotective agent. The action of XNJ on p-AKT may make a significant contribution to its neuroprotective effect.